Inspection table



March 6, 1962 R. M. STEPHENS ETAL 3,023,480

INSPECTION TABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 14, 1957 MN "Il Il' III INVENTORS ATTORNEYS INSPECTION TABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 14, 1957 gw/Md ATTORNEYS March 6, 1962 R. M. STEPHENS ETAL 3,023,480

INSPECTION TABLE Filed Aug. 14, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Uvj l i i l l ,f i n f l1 Il i f Q1 h 1N VENTORS Roy M. swf/72ans,

l ATTORNEYS 5 sheets-sheet 4 March 6, 1962 R. M. STEPHENS l-:TAL

INSPECTION TABLE Filed Aug. 14, 1957 March 6, 1962 R. M. STEPHENS ETAL 3,023,480

INSPECTION TABLE Filed Aug. 14, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 0% ,E SQ n MS INVENTORs ATTORNEYS States This invention relates to machines for inspecting textile fabrics and more particularly to a machine which is suitable for inspecting textile fabrics while permitting the first quality goods to be segregated from the seconds.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine having a supply roll and a take-up roll upon which the first qualit;I material is wound and an inspection board over which the fabric passes from the supply roll to the take-up roll. Provision is made for an operator to sit before the inspection board to examine the material as it is drawn across the board at constant speed.

A third roll is provided onto which second quality goods can be wound after having passed over the inspection board from the supply roll.

A set of electrical controls is located adjacent the operators position so that the operator can selectively run all rolls forward or in reverse and, through the use of magnetic clutches, any one or more of the three rolls can be driven at the will of the operator.

With a machine of this type, the operator can examine the fabric as it passes over the inspection board. When second quality material appears from the supply roll, the operator can cut across the fabric and start the seconds material winding on the seconds roll. When rst quality material reappears, the operator can again cut through the material and rapidly stitch the first quality material onto the free end of the material on the take-up roll.

A process as described above comprises the essential steps in the inspecting operation. There are additional features of the invention, however, which add to the ease, economy and speed of operation.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an electrically driven mounting mechanism for the seconds roll. In accordance with this object of the invention, a reversible motor is drivably connected to the seconds roll mount to release and to clamp the seconds rolls substantially automatically.

It is another object of the invention to provide a conveyor running below the seconds roll mount which will receive seconds rolls which have been released, as described above, and convey them to an appropriate destination. In practice, a number of inspection machines of the type to which the present invention relates, will be located side-by-side with the conveyor passing underneath all the machines in a row. Thus, the one conveyor can handle all of the seconds rolls in the operation.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a power transmission system by which the supply roll, take-up roll and seconds roll are all driven from the same power supply.

An important feature of this invention is that the operation of the device may be selectively altered to use the seconds roll as a take-up roll, in which instance the conveyor system is especially important. This enables take-up on small rolls of single cuts or large rolls as required by the conditions chosen for subsequent operation.

These and other objects of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the inspecting machine;

3,623,480 Patented Mar. 6, 1982 FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine taken from one side of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the machine taken from the other side thereof;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the machine with p ortions omitted for clarity;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the transmission system;

FiG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective View of the seconds roll supply operating mechanism; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view in partial, axial section of a portion of the supply roll handling mechanism showing the connection of the knock-off rod thereof to the seconds take-up roll mandrel thereof. j

Referring particularly to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the overall organization of the inspecting machine and operation can be understood. Normally, the large number of inspecting machines indicated at 10 will be spaced from each other in a row as indicated in FIG. 1. The machine includes a board 12 over which ythe textile fabric passes for inspection `by an operator Who sits in the space 14 provided in table 16. j

The fabric is supplied from the large supply roll 1 8 driven by drive rolls ,2d and `22. The fabric passes from the supply roll 18 under a spring biased tension control bar 24 up to the inspection board 12. -Rollers 26 and 28 are rotatably mounted at the upper andlower edges of the inspection board to facilitate the travel of the fabric over the board. The fabric passes from the board to a combination of an idler roll 36 and a measuring roll 32, from which the fabric passes to a take-up roll 34 driven by drive rolls 36 and 38.

In addition to the take-up roll 34 upon which rst grade material is wound, there is a seconds take-up roll indicated at 40 in close proximity to the machine operator.

Cooperating with the rollers 26 and 28 on the inspection board are adjustable guide mem-bers 42 which guide the fabric as it passes from the supply roll to the take-up roll 34.

The supply roll and take up roll are mounted in angle members 44 and 46 respectively for vertical sliding movement and for rotational movement during the winding and unwinding process.

In general, the operation 0f the machine as thus far described, consists in drawing the fabric from the supply roll and winding it on the take-up roll after passing over the inspection board 12. When defects in the fabric are noted, the fabric is cut and the defective fabric or seconds is wound onto the seconds take-up roll 40.

Power T ransmssion System A reversible adjustable speed motor 48 drives the supply roll, the take-up roll and the seconds take-uprroll. The transmission system from the motor to the various rolls is illustrated in FIG. 5. The motor 48 drives through vva sheave 50 on the motor shaft through a V-belt 52 to a sheave 54 on the input side of a gear reducer 56. A sprocket 58 on the output side of the gear reducerv is connected by a chain 60 to a sprocket 62 on counter shaft 64. Drive to all of the rolls comes of of counter shaft 64.

Drive to the supply and take-up rolls is through a sprocket 66 and chain 68 to a sprocket 7i?. A sprocket 72 is connected to be driven with sprocket 70. A magnetic clutch 74 connects the sprocket 70 to take-up drive roll 36. A chain 76 connects sprocket 72 to sprocket 78 which drives a shaft 80 connected through a magnetic clutch 82 to sprocket 84. Sprocket 78 and half ofthe clutch are fastened together. The other half of the magnetic clutch is keyed to shaft 80, which is the shaft of roll 22. Sprocket 84 is also keyed to shaft 80. The

sprocket 84 is fixed for driving engagement with supply drive roll 20 and is connected to supply drive roll 20 by a chain 86 and sprocket 8S, sprocket 88 being drivably connected to drive roll 20.

Power to the seconds take-up roll is also taken off counter shaft 64 by means of the sprocket 90, chain 92 and sprocket 94. The sprocket 94 drives through a magnetic clutch 96 to a shaft 93 connected to a sprocket 100. The sprocket 100 is connected through chain 102 to sprocket 104 connected to the seconds take-up roll drive means.

With the arrangement just described, it will be observed that the drive rolls for the supply vroll and take-up roll are driven at identical speeds and are fixedly coupled together through the chain 76 and associated sprockets. It will further be observed that through the seiective operation of clutches 74, 82 and 96, any of the three main rolls, that is supply, take-up and seconds takeup, can be driven in any desired combination. It should also be noted that through the use of the reversible motor 43, the fabric can be driven in either direction merely by throwing the reversing switch, regardless of Whether the fabric is being taken up on the main take-up roll or the seconds take-up roll.

Roll 3S in the particular embodiment as depicted by the drawings is not driven but is merely an idler roll.

The disengagement of clutch 74 is desirable to maintain the position of the take-up roll 34 while second quality fabric is being wound on the seconds roll 40. When the operator reaches second quality material he disengages clutch'74 which stops the take-up roll and supply roll. He cuts thev fabric to separate the first quality from the length of second quality fabric coming from the supply roll and temporarily stitches said second quality length to seconds fabric on the seco-nds roll. He then engages clutch 96 to wind the second quality fabric on the seconds roll until first quality fabric is again reached at which time he disengages clutch 96, cuts the fabric to separate second quality from the first quality fabric then coming from the supply roll and stitches the first quality fabric to the fabric on the take-up roll which is in the same position when the first cut was made. Since the proper amount of tension on second quality fabric is not necessary for the proper inspection of second quality fabric, it is not necessary to drive the supply roll via its drive means, i.e., engagement of clutch 82 and/ or clutch 74.

In the particular embodiment shown in the drawings and described in the specification, disengagement of clutch 74 also disengages the supply drive rolls 20 and 22 from the drive source. The supply drive rolls, nevertheless, are made free running in relation to the take-up roll after disengagement of clutch 74 by disengagement of clutch 82. The disengagement of clutch 82 permits the supply roll to turn by the pull of fabric being wound on the seconds roll while the take-up roll remains immobile. Thus, it is preferable, though not necessary, to disengage both clutches 74 and 82 when winding on the seconds roll. If desired, the clutches 74 and 82 can be engaged while winding on the seconds roll in which instance all three rolls will be turning. Proper tension of fabric on the inspection table is maintained by the engagement and disengagement of the clutch S2 and is not affected by disengagement of clutch 74 while winding on the take-up roll 34.

Automatic Controls The machine has two sets of automatic controls. The first is to maintain proper tension on the fabric as it passes from the supply roll to the take-up roll. It consists of the tension control bar 24 which is rotatably mounted on one end of a lever 105 pivoted at 106 to the frame. The other end of the lever is connected to an operating member 108 which is slidable in a bracket 110 to engage an arm 112 of the limit switch 114. A spring 116 biases the tension control bar 24 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3. If the slack becomes too great, the spring urges member 103 in an upward direction until limit switch 114 causes the disengagement of clutch 82 controlling the supply drive rolls 20 and 22. Thus, the drive to the supply roll 1S stops momentarily to permit the tension on the fabric to be increased to the desired amount.

The second automatic controlconsists of a limit switch 113 operated by an arm 120 which is engaged by an op erating member 122. The member 122 is slidable in a bracket 124 and has fixed thereto a U-shaped sensing member 126. The sensing member is adapted to be mounted on any one of several holes 128 on the operating member 122 and extends around to be engaged by mandrel 130 upon which the fabric for the supply roll is wound.

In the preferred embodiment, the limit switch 118 is connected to a signal light but can be connected to a relay for shutting the machine off. In operation, as the fabric is removed from supply roll 18, the mandrel 136 moves downwardly until it engages the U-shaped sensing member 126. Upon engagement with member 126, the operating member 122 moves downwardly to pivot arm 120 and to close the limit switch 118 operating the signal light. Thus, the operator is advised of the fact that the supply roll is practically depleted.

Seconds Roll Handling Mechanism As indicated in FIG. l, a conveyor 132 passes under all of the inspecting machines immediately below the location of the seconds take-up roll. Thus, when the seconds takeup roll is sufficiently filled, by operating a suitable release mechanism, the roll can be dropped to the conveyor which carries the roll to a suitable place for handling. The mechanism for handling the seconds take-up roll is located at the side of the machine opposite to that from which the roll is driven. The mechanism consists of a motor driving a sprocket 134 and chain 136 to a sprocket 138 internally threaded for engagement with an axially movable knock-off rod 140. The sprocket 133 is axially fixed so that when it is rotated by motor 135 it will drive the knock-off rod axially either to engage or disengage the mandrel 142 of the seconds roll 40 (see FIGS. l, 3 and 4).

Knock-off rod 140 is slidable in a bracket 144 which is fixed -to the frame of the machine. At the end of the rod facing the machine, the knock-oft` rod is fixed through a bearing 146 to a cup 148 which receives mandrel 142. Through this arrangement, the rod 140 is fixed insofar as rotational movement is concerned but is axially slidable in bracket 144. The bearing 146 permits the cup 148 to rotate with respect to `the rod 140 as it is driven from the opposite end through mandrel 142, cup 150 and drive sprocket 104 described above.

In operation, when a seconds take-up roll 40 is filled, the 4operator stops the machine by shutting off main drive motor 48 and energizes auxiliary motor 135 to move the knock-off rod 140 outwardly. The seconds .take-up roll drops to the conveyor and the operator slips a fresh mandrel into cup 150. By reversing motor 135, cup 148 is brought up into engagement with the mandrel and the machine is again ready to go.

Mandrel Storage Referring to FIG. 6, mounted under inspection board 12 and extending substantially parallel thereto, is a rack 152. A considerable number of mandrels 154 are stored in the space between the rack 152 and the under surface of inspection board 12. The spare mandrels are maintained in position in the rack by a detent lever 156 pivoted at 158 to the frame. A tension spring 160 urges the opposite end of the lever 156 up against the maudrels to hold them in the rack. A like detent lever 156 is mounted on the opposite side of the machine.

The spare mandrels are positioned with respect to the location of the operation that when it is necessary to remove one, the operator can merely reach underneath thev inspection board and pull one out of the rack against the pull of springs 169.

Over-All Operation At the beginning of the operation, a supply roll 18 is set on drive rolls 20 and 22. The free end of the supply roll is passed u-nder tension control rod 24 and up to the roller 26. The fabric passes across the inspection board along guide members 42 and over roller 2S, through the idler and measuring rolls 30 and '32 'to the take-up roll 34. Supply roll 18 and take-up roll 34 are driven at the same peripheral speed by the surface wind rolls 20, 22, 36 and 38 respectively. As the fabric is being driven from the supply roll onto the take-up roll, variations in tension are compensated for through the operation of tension control bar 24 and limit switch 114 which control supply roll clutch 82. When the operator notes a defective portion of the fabric, the fabric is cut transversely and the free end is wrapped around the seconds take-up roll until the defect runs out. When the defect runs out, the fabric is again cut transversely and is stitched to the free end of the material on the take-up roll so that the inspection of first quality material can be continued.

The control of the seconds take-up roll as well as the supply and main take-up roll is through the respective clutches associated with the rolls. These clutches are operated by switches 162 mounted on the table along side of the operator.

If the fabric runs too far onto either of the take-up rolls before a change in the condition of the fabric is noted, the fabric can easily be reversed by causing the motor 4S to rotate in the opposite direction.

When supply roll 18 is depleted, the mandrel 136i will have moved downwardly a sufiicient distance to cause the operation of limit switch 118 to operate a signal light advising the operator that the supply roll is depleted.

As indicated above, upon filling the seconds roll, they can be dropped lto the conveyor 132 through the operation of the mandrel engaging cup 148 whose axial movement is caused by the motor 135. The switch 164 which moves with the axial movement of cup 148 automatically stops the axial movement of cup 143 when the desired position of engagement and disengagement have been reached.

In a general manner, while there has been disclosed in the above description, what is deemed to be the most practical and eiiicient embodiment of the invention, it should be well understood that the invention is not limited to such embodiment as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the scope of the accompanying claims.

We claim:

1. In a textile inspection machine having a frame for mounting a textile fabric supply roll and a take-up roll rereiving said textile fabric, a driving mechanism comprising, at least one rst drive roll mounted in said frame and drivably engaging the periphery of said supply roll, first rotating means for rotating said first drive roll, at least one second drive roll mounted in said frame and drivably engaging the periphery of said take-up roll, second rotating means for rotating said second drive roll substantially concurrently with said first drive roll and means for selectively disengaging said first rotating means from its respective drive roll to maintain a uniform tension on the textile fabric.

2. In a textile inspection machine having a frame for mounting a 4textile fabric supply roll and a take-up roll receiving said textile fabric, a driving mechanism comprising, at least one first drive roll mounted in said frame and drivably engaging the periphery of said supply roll, first rotating means for rotating said first drive roll, at least one second drive roll mounted in said frame and drivably engaging the periphery of said take-up roll, second rotating means for rotating said second drive roll, chain and sprocket means interconnecting said first and second drive rolls to provide identical rotational speeds, and means for 'selectively disengaging said first rotating means from its respective drive roll to maintain a uniform tension on the textile fabric.

3. In a textile inspection machine having a frame for mounting a textile fabric supply roll and a take-up roll receiving said textile fabric, a driving mechanism comprising, at least one first drive roll mounted in said frame and drivably engaging the periphery of said supply roll, first rotating means connected through a first clutch to said first drive roll for rotating said supply roll, at least one second drive roll mounted in said frame and drivably engaging the periphery of said take-up roll, second rotating means connected through a second clutch to said second drive roll for rotating said take-up roll, a tension control bar operably engageable with said textile fabric to detect a decrease in tension, and switch means operable by said control bar and connected to said first clutch to disconnect said supply roll drive when a predetermined slack occurs in said fabric.

4. In a textile inspection machine having a frame for mounting a textile fabric supply roll, a take-up roll normally receiving said textile fabric, and a seconds roll, a driving mechanism comprising, at least one first drive -roll mounted in said frame and drivably engaging the periphery of said supply roll, rst rotating means connected through a first clutch to said first drive roll for rotating said supply roll, at least one second drive roll mounted in said frame and drivably engaging the periphery of said take-up roll, second rotating means connected through a second clutch to said second drive roll for rotating said take-up roll, third rotating means connected vthrough a third clutch for rotating said seconds roll, and means for selectively operating said second clutch or said third clutch, respectively, to wind on said take-up roll or to wind on said seconds roll, and means for selectively operating said first clutch to disengage said supply roll to take up slack.

5. In a textile inspection machine having a frame for mounting a textile fabric supply roll and a take-up roll receiving said textile fabric, a driving mechanism comprising, at least one first drive roll mounted in said frame and drivably engaging the periphery of said supply roll, means connected through a first clutch to said first drive roll for rotating said first drive roll, at least one second drive roll mounted in said frame and drivably engaging the periphery of said take-up roll, means connected through a second clutch to said second drive roll for rotating said second drive roll substantially concurrently with said first drive roll and means for selectively disengaging said first clutch from its respective drive roll.

6. In a textile inspection machine having a frame for mounting a textile fabric supply roll and a take-up roll normally receiving said textile fabric, and a seconds roll, a driving mechanism comprising, at least one first drive roll mounted in said frame and drivably engaging the periphery of said supply roll, means connected through a. first clutch to said first drive roll for rotating said supply roll, at least one second drive roll mounted in said frame and drivably engaging the periphery of said take-up roll, means connected through a second clutch to said second drive roll for rotating said take-up roll, means connected through a third clutch for rotating said seconds roll, a single source of rotary power, and rotary power transmission means interconnecting the three said rotating means to said source of rotary power.

7. A machine according to claim 6 in which said source of rotary power is a reversible electric motor.

8. In a textile inspection machine having a frame for mounting a textile fabric supply roll and a take-up roll receiving said textile fabric, a driving mechanism comprising, at least one first drive roll mounted in said frame and drivably engaging the periphery of said supply roll, first rotating means for rotating said first drive roll, at least one second drive roll mounted kin said frame and drivably engaging the periphery of said take-up roll, second rotating means for .rotating said second drive roll,

means for selectively disengaging said first rotating means from its respective drive roll to maintain a uniform tension on the textile fabric, an inspection board, and antifriction means at the leading and trailing edges of said board, said board being adapted to support a fabric moving from said supply roll to said take-up roll.

9. In a textile fabric inspecting machine, having a frame, a supply roll and take-up roll mounted in said frame, an arrangement for handling a seconds roil cornprising, an axially fixed rotatable mount on one side of said frame, an axially movable rotatable mount on the other side of said frame, and reversible motor means for selectively moving said axially movable mount toward said fixed mount to engage a seconds roll, and away from said mount to release said seconds roll.

l0. In a textile fabric handling plant, a series of motor operated textile fabric inspecting machines mounted sideby-side and each of said machines having a frame, and a supply roll, a take-up roll and a seconds roll mounted in said frame, an improved arrangement for releasably mounting said seconds roll on each machine and handling released seconds rolls comprising, an axially fixed rotatable mount on one side of said frame, an axially movable rotatable mount on the other side of said frame, reversible motor means for selectively moving said axially movable mount toward said fixed mount to engage a seconds roll, and away from said mount to release said seconds roll, and an endless conveyor passing under all machines to receive released seconds rolls and to convey said rolls to a predetermined location.

11. In a textile fabric handling plant, a series of motor operated textile fabric inspecting machines mounted sideby-side, each said machine having a frame, and a supply roll, a take-up roll and a seconds roll mounted in said frame, an improved arrangement for releasably mounting said seconds roll on each machine and handling released seconds rolls comprising, means for mounting said seconds roll in said frame, means for releasing said seconds roll from said mounting means, and an endless conveyor passing under all machines to receive released seconds rolls and to convey said rolls to a predetermined location.

12. In a motor operated textile fabric inspecting machine having a frame, and a supply roll, seconds roll take-up roll mounted in said frame, an improved arrangement for releasably mounting said seconds roll comprising, an axially fixed rotatable mount on one side of said frame, means for rotating said axially fixed mount to rotate said seconds roll, an axially movable rotatable mount on the other side of said frame, a cup mounted on the ends of said rotatable mounts, resilient means urging said cups toward each other, and reversible motor means for selectively moving said axially movable mount toward said fixed mount to engage a seconds roll, and away from said mount to release said seconds roll.

13. In a motor operated textile fabric inspecting machine having a frame, and a supply roll, a seconds roll and take-up roll mounted in said frame, an improved arrangement for releasably mounting said seconds roll comprising, an axially fixed rotatable mount on one side of said frame, an axially movable rotatable mount on the other side of said frame, a threaded rod slidably mounted on said frame, a rotatable connection between said rod and axially movable rotatable mount, said connection permitting said mount to move axially while permitting it to rotate, an internally threaded member threadedly engaging said threaded rod, means for rotating said member to move said rod axially for the release and engagement of said seconds roll.

14. In a motor operated textile fabric inspecting machine having a frame, and a supply roll, a seconds roll and take-up roll mounted in said frame, an improved arrangement for releasably mounting said seconds roll omprising, an axially fixed rotatable mount on one side of said frame, an'axially movable rotatable mount on the other side of said frame, and reversible motor means for selectively moving said axially movable mount toward said fixed mount to engage a seconds roll, and away from said mount to release said seconds roll, said motor being connected to said axially movable rotatable mount by transmission means including an internally threaded rotary member, and a rod threaded at one end to threadedly engage said member and connected at the other end to said axially movable mount, said member being axially xed so that upon rotation said threaded rod will be moved axially.

l5. In a motor operated textile fabric inspecting machine having a frame, and a supply roll, a seconds roll and take-up roll mounted in said frame, an improved arrangement for releasabiy mounting said seconds roll comprising, an axially fixed rotatable mount on one side of said frame, means for rotating said axially lixed mount to rotate said seconds roll, an axially movable rotatable mount on the other side of said frame, and reversible motor means for selectively moving said axially movable mount toward said fixed mount to engage a seconds roll, and away from said mount to release said seconds roll.

16. In a rnotor operated textile fabric inspecting machine bav-ing a frame, and a supply roll, a seconds roll and take-up roll mounted in said frame, an improved arrangement for releasably mounting said seconds roll comprising, an axially fixed rotatable mount on one side of said frame, means for rotating said axially fixed mount to rotate said seconds roll, said rotating means being connected to said mount through a clutch, whereby said seconds roll can be operated selectively, an axially movable rotatable mount on the other side of said frame, and reversible motor means for selectively moving said axially movable mount toward said fixed mount to engage a seconds roll, and away from said mount to release said seconds roll.

17. In a textile fabric inspecting machine having driven supply and take-up rolls mounted on a frame, an inspection board mounted on said frame, said textile fabric passing from said supply roll over said board and onto said take-up roll, and a supply rack mounted parallel to said board and spaced below said board to receive and discharge empty cores upon which said fabric is to be wound.

18. In a textile fabric inspecting machine having driven supply and take-up rolls mounted on a frame, an inspection board mounted on said frame, said textile fabric passing from said supply roll over said board and onto said take-up roll, a supply rack mounted parallel to said board and spaced below said board to receive and discharge empty cores upon which said fabric is to be wound, and a core release mechanism mounted at the bottom of said rack to release cores as needed.

19. In a textile inspection machine having a frame for mounting a textile fabric supply roll and a take-up roll normally receiving said textile fabric, and a seconds roll, a driving mechanism comprising at least one iirst drive roll mounted in said frame and drivably engaging the periphery of said supply roll, first rotating means connected to said first drive roll for rotating said supply roll, at least one second drive roll in said frame and drivably engaging the periphery of said take-up roll, second rotating means connected to said second drive roll for rotating said take-up roll, third rotating means for rotating said seconds roll, and means for selectively operating said second rotating means or said third rotating means to selectively rotate, respectively, said take-up roll to wind said fabric on said take-up roll or said seconds roll to wind said fabric on said seconds roll.

20. In a textile inspection machine having a first takeup roll normally receiving first quality textile fabric from a supply and a seconds roll selectively receiving second quality textile fabric from said supply, a driving mechanism comprising a rst drive means drivably' connected to said take-up roll for rotating said take-up roll, a second drive means drivably connected to said seconds roll for rotating said seconds roll, and means for selectively operating said first drive means or said second drive means to selectively rotate said take-up roll to wind rst quality textile fabric thereon or to rotate respectively said seconds roll to wind second quality textile fabric thereon.

21. In a textile fabric handling plant, a series of motor operated textile fabric inspecting machines mounted side by side, each of said machines having a frame, a roll mounted in said frame for receiving textile fabric from a supply after it has been inspected, an improved arrangement for releasably mounting said roll on each machine and handling released rolls comprising releasable means for mounting said roll in said frame, means for activating said releasable means for releasing said roll from said mounting means and an endless conveyor passing under all machines to receive released rolls and to convey said rolls to a predetermined location.

22. In a textile fabric handling plant, a series of motor operated textile fabric inspecting machines mounted side by side, each of said machines having a frame, a first roll mounted in said frame and carrying textile fabric to be inspected and a second roll mounted in said frame for receiving said textile fabric after it has been inspected, an improved arrangement for releasably mounting said second roll on each machine and handling released second rolls comprising an axially xed rotatable mount on one side of said frame, an axially movable, rotatable mount on the other side of said frame, reversible motor means for selectively moving said axially movable mount toward said fixed mount to engage the second roll, and away from said mount to release said second roll, and an endless conveyor passing under all machines at a level below said axially fixed and axially movable rotatable mounts to receive released second rolls and to convey said rolls to a predetermined location.

23. In a textile fabric inspecting machine having a frame, a first roll carrying textile fabric to be inspected and a second roll receiving inspected textile fabric mounted in said frame, an improved arrangement for mounting and handling said second roll comprising, an axially fixed rotatable mount on one side of said frame, an axially movable rotatable mount on the other side of said frame, reversible motor means for selectively moving said axially movable mount toward said fixed mount to engage said second roll, and away from said fixed mount to release said second roll, a supply rack mounted parallel to said second roll for holding replacement second rolls onto which said fabric is to be wound, said supply rack being spaced above said second roll mounted on said rotatable mounts and clear of fabric wound thereon, and release mechanism mounted at the bottom of said rack to release said replacement second rolls as needed.

24. In a textile fabric inspecting machine having a frame, a rst roll carrying a supply of textile fabric to be inspected and a second roll for receiving said fabric, both of said rolls being mounted in said frame, an improved arrangement for handling said second roll comprising, an

axially fixed rotatable mount on one side of said frame, an axially movable rotatable mount on the other side of said frame, reversible motor means for selectively moving said axially movable mount toward said fixed mount to engage said second roll and away from said fixed mount to release said second roll, and switch means movable with the axial movement of said movable mount to stop the axial movement of said movable mount when the desired positions of engagement and release have been reached.

25. A textile inspection machine for inspecting textile fabric wound on a core, said fabric and core forming a textile fabric supply roll, comprising a frame, means for mounting said supply roll in said frame, said core being adapted to slide downwardly as the textile fabric is unwound from said supply roll, means for mounting a takeup roll in said frame for receiving said textile fabric, at least one rst drive roll mounted in said frame and drivably engaging the periphery of said supply roll, first rotating means for rotating said first drive roll, at least one second drive roll mounted in said frame and drivably engaging the periphery of said take-up roll, second rotating means for rotating said second drive roll, and a limit switch mounted in the lower portion of said means for mounting said supply roll, said limit switch having a sensing element positioned in the downward path of the end periphery of said core, said sensing `element actuating said switch for indicating when the textile fabric on said core is depleted.

26. A device as claimed in claim 25 wherein said means for selectively operating said first drive means or said second drive means is selectively operable to rotate said seconds roll to wind thereon second quality fabric from said take-up roll.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 687,776 Pain Dec. 3, 1901 794,701 Cobb Iuly 11, 1905 935,494 Griffin Sept. 28, 1909 1,152,541 Owen Sept. 7, 1915 1,357,352 Scott Nov. 2, 1920 1,484,545 Aspley Feb. 19, 1924 1,848,299 Anderson et a1 Mar. 8, 1932 1,921,405 Cullen Aug. 8, 1933 2,115,737 Menschner May 3, 1938 2,205,630 Remington June 25, 1940 2,219,701 Remington Oct. 29, 1940 2,445,080 Petskeyes July 13, 1948 2,470,575 Norton May 17, 1949 2,514,970 Prickett July 11, 1950 2,521,413 Scheuermann et al Sept. 5, 1950 2,555,162 Stanford May 29, 1951 2,561,146 Sieg July 17, 1951 2,583,674 Tobler Jan. 29, 1952 2,666,596 Rosenburgh et al Ian. 19, 1954 2,675,190 Wiig Apr. 13, 1954 2,771,251 Silverstein Nov. 20, 1956 2,825,513

Yerrid et al Mar. 4, 1958 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3YO23,48O March 6, 1962 Roy M. Stephens et al.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column T, line 44,Y after "roll"v second occurrencey insert and column 9 line 7, strike out "respectively" and insert the same after "rotate" in line same column 9; column l0, line 30, :for the claim reference numeral "25" read 2O Signed and sealed this 4th day of September 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w. swlDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

